Abstract
Biological therapy (bDMARD) of rheumatoid arthritis has led to significant changes in the strategy of treatment offered to pa-tients with highly active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) resistant to conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD). Currently, many different principles are used in the treatment of RA, related to pathogenetic mechanisms behind the devel-opment of the disease.
Depending on the mechanism of action, bDMARD can be divided into three groups: cytokine block-ers, drugs affecting T-cells and B-cells, and small molecule signal transduction inhibitors. Many TNFa inhibitors are current-ly registered in the Czech Republic (infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept, golimumab, certolizumab pegol): other registered drugs include interleukin 6 receptor antagonist (tocilizumab), and drugs affecting the T- and B-cells (abatacept, rituximab).
The aim of this article is to provide a brief overview of characteristics of individual preparations that are used in the clini-cal care for RA patients nowadays.